here is what im seeing.
this is basic math and open source reporting so im keeping opsec.
UKR army has built at least 3 battle groups. each about the size of a US division (3-4 brigades with attached elements working together).
the VAST majority of the vehicles are wheeled vehicles. this seems to be built like the US 9th infantry div (1985-91) truly motorized divisions. the makeup is infantry transports (HMMWVs, pick ups), scout. dune buggies FASTVs, and backed up by MRAPS, BTRs... with tanks attached
this allows the ukr forces to move fast hit hard and hold with dismounted ATGMs. the russian army with "death before dismount mentality has no way to counter this. as they are sending reinforcements into the battle they are hitting ambushes and counter attacks prior to deploying
im betting that the ukr army has made 3 battle groups. one that hit kherson, one that hit the north, and one that has not been played yet.
if you are battletracker (i am) you count vehicles by TO&E (donated, sold vehicles) and look for them in combat as BDA. sofar many of some types of vehicles donated HAVE NOT shown up on the battlefield, yet.
if my numbers are right only about 1/2 of the new "secret" army has been used. this means another strike is coming....soon... and just like the north strike this will be too fast for the ru forces to counter.
in addition MANY more vehicles are being given to the ukr forces right now. and the troops that were holding the line are being recovered, rested, and rearmed... in 14-30 days the ukr army will have 2-3 more battle groups (divisions) that can be thrown into the fight
im really not tracking any unengaged fresh troops of anything over a brigade that ru still has that could counter any attack of that size... but time will tell
keep in mind that both sides are showing old video of units that were in training... many of the vid of some vehicles are not in combat.. they are old training vid and the vehicles are NOT yet in combat.. they will be when the time is right
i will say this. the ukr army has 4 options to strike the next blow, any of the 4 could spell the end of the russian army in that FRONT. this would enable the ukr army to swing its remaining army to the opposite front crushing the surviving ru forces
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to all the people out there that think the 31st MEU thats going to the mid east right now is the end all be all.. please, no not even close.
its a good light unit, but not set up for much more than close in beach fighting.
remember they gave up all the tanks, and much of its artillery a few years ago...
right now they have MAYBE
12 to 15 new ACVs for ship to shore transport... made by italy
according to reports some have the 30mm turret but most dont. they are huge and light.. meaning they dont want to fight from them, they have thin armor. mostly used for ship to shore transport
they have about the same LAV25s (15 to 20) , old and light so they can float. they are NOT great in a fight.. mostly used in a support role. not all lavs are the 25mm gun version. they have medic, support, and air defense versions. so not all will be for the infantry . again all heavy armor was disinvested about 5 years ago.
they do come with 4-6 AH1Zs that are good aircraft.. but they fly low and slow, and not many of them
i dont think they are getting the 11th airborne ready for MN...
i really think its a deployment to greenland..
here is why.
its the ONLY division that has a airborne qualified arctic unit in the entire army. the only one!!!
a battalion is about 500 or so in peacetime...
if its true that 1500 to 2000 troops are being prepped that would mean they are probably taking the slice elements with them... artillery, mortars, etc... you dont normally do that for crowd control
this is about the farthest unit you could deploy to MN... plenty of far closer units..
in the last 36 hours this SMALL task force of ice agents with the guy pictured have...
shot a kid in the face with a 40mm grenade launcher..
killed a american civilian
arrested an american indian
arrested 2 americans for looking mexican in target
trolled the governor by staging an event in the capital building and filming it..
beat the shit out of a unarmed female for not moving
used a car to hit a protester as she walked by out of the way of the car (turning the wheels as they drove by"
this is just what i have seen on social media...
all in the same town
its the same small team that went to chicago, and other areas to do a "show of force". its intended to escalate the situation there.
this guy is the same one that refused to comply with judges in IL and other states by just leaving.
this is the same guy throwing a grenade into a school just after the same group shot the lady in the car.
same small group of ice
here he is beating the shit out of a person for just refusing to move. it got out of hand and brutal
it looks like the russians are moving one of the last resurve units of the russian army into the fight..
its the 70th MRD (division)
the 70th is a new division that was formed in crimea just 2 years ago and has been in the kherson region from then on.
the only real fighting that it has been used for is the battle of krynky.. where they were known for dropping weapons and running away. the 810th marines were brought in to secure the area after the 70th could not hold and cracked.
1. the vehicles in question are BMD2s (airborne APCs).. ukraine didnt have any in 2014. this one is factory fresh and new... ukraine was broke in 2014 and most of its vehicles looked like shit.
2. you can clearly see the RUSSIAN airborne vehicle markings